Library and Information Science Commons^™

An Analysis Of Entry-Level Librarian Ads Published In American Libraries, 1982-2002, Claudene Sproles, David Ratledge

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Much discussion has taken place in the literature over the difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill vacancies within libraries. Emphasis has been placed on recruitment, internships, scholarships, and other partnerships by library science schools and libraries to attract new people to the profession. Even so, applicant pools are dwindling [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004] and many institutions have been forced to rewrite job ads after initial postings to locate a qualified candidate. Factors hindering vacancy searches include:

• Graying of the profession, “Thousands of librarians will be retiring in the next ten years” [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004]
• Budget constraints/less positions [Bureau of …

Nigerian University Libraries And The Challenges Of Globalization: The Way Forward, L. A. Ogunsola

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The main aim of this paper is to examine the importance, implications, and opportunities opened to Nigerian libraries in the current Information Age as related to the concept of globalization. This paper shall attempt to address possible areas of importance and advantages that can propel Nigerian universities and their libraries into being a respective player in the global IT revolution and enhance their status in what is now widely called as Global Village. This paper stresses the necessity for Nigerian universities to be part of the new and emerging technologies which are challenging the traditional process of teaching and …

Language-Related Open Archives: Impact On Scholarly Communities And Academic Librarianship, Jung-Ran Park

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

The evolution of new forms of scholarly communication since the advent of Web technology has brought unprecedented opportunities for potential global connection among the rapidly growing number of electronic repositories among scholarly communities. Under the open archive infrastructures, scholarly resources that had been invisible to Web search engines and thus afforded limited dissemination and access are now becoming increasingly visible with speedy and wide distribution. This paper addresses the emergent issues and challenges faced by academic librarians: participation in archiving, organization, and preservation of open repositories; integration of Web-based repositories into traditional collections; and mediation and direction of academic users …

An Analysis Of Entry-Level Librarian Ads Published In American Libraries, 1982-2002., Claudene Sproles, David Ratledge

Faculty and Staff Scholarship

Much discussion has taken place in the literature over the difficulty finding qualified candidates to fill vacancies within libraries. Emphasis has been placed on recruitment, internships, scholarships, and other partnerships by library science schools and libraries to attract new people to the profession. Even so, applicant pools are dwindling [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004] and many institutions have been forced to rewrite job ads after initial postings to locate a qualified candidate. Factors hindering vacancy searches include:

• Graying of the profession, “Thousands of librarians will be retiring in the next ten years” [Simmons-Welburn and McNeil, 2004]
• Budget constraints/less positions [Bureau of …

Some Practical Points On Organizing Etd Consortia, Silvia B. Southwick, Ana Pavani

Library Faculty Research

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) digital libraries are being developed worldwide. Higher education organizations commonly collaborate in these efforts by forming consortia. Some of the existing consortia are at the national level while others are at regional levels. NDLTD (Networked Digital Library for Thesis and Dissertations) is an initiative that is creating an international consortium which includes organizations or other ETD consortia in various countries. Consortia are important because they create an opportunity to collaborate, to share experiences, and to establish or adopt standards that guarantee interoperability among participant ETD digital libraries. However, developing consortia is challenging since it requires …

A Library’S Integrated Online Library System: System Assessment And New Hardware Implementation, Jason Vaughan

Library Faculty Research

For more than a decade, a consortium of academic libraries in southern Nevada has shared a central integrated online library system (IOLS), Innovative Interfaces’ Innopac (Innovative when referring to the vendor, Innopac when referring to the software). At present, this consortium includes the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) (both the main university library system and the UNLV law library), the Community College of Southern Nevada, Nevada State College, and the Desert Research Institute. The last central-site server was purchased and installed in 1997. In the four intervening years, tremendous growth occurred with the system, necessitating a hardware upgrade. Prior …

Rethinking The Undergraduate Curriculum: It Takes A Village, Christina Maslach, Patricia A. Iannuzzi

Library Faculty Presentations

The Berkeley Campus Culture:

- Research and graduate program pre-eminence
- Strong faculty governance
- Highly entrepreneurial culture
- Autonomous academic departments, schools, and colleges
- Decentralized “silos”

Berkeley Library Culture:

- Library pre-eminence
- Collections-centered
- Value of subject specialization
- Library silo

Shifting Library Culture:

- Traditional Model
- New Model

Independence Of Nations And The Role Of Libraries: The American Library System As The Stakeholder For Freedom Of Information, Lana Zink

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The nations of the world community are independent of each other. There is no higher authority to bring together like and unlike nations for the betterment of world order. Each nation stands alone. It is realized, even in America, that international affairs dictate there is no one moral code common to all people and to all governments of the world. Political order in the world community depends upon an independence of nations, but an independence that recognizes a moral, reasoned mind. The so-called American library system plays a role in the assurances toward tempered, human behavior at the international …

The Next Step In Scholarly Communication: Is The Traditional Journal Dead?, Jeanne Galvin

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Electronic journals have been applauded as a solution to the serials pricing crisis, a step toward environmentally responsible behavior and a means for scholars to expedite and expand their modes of communication. On the other hand, until fairly recently some scholars regarded electronic journals as ephemeral and inaccessible to all but the technologically proficient. As rising prices force libraries to cancel subscriptions each year and publication delays slow scholarly communication and academic careers, electronic journals seem to offer some promise. The article will review the recent advances made by electronic journals and the current challenges remaining for scholarly communication.

A First In Africa: Implementation Of Metalib And Sfx At The Cape Technikon Library, Deborah Becker

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Abstract

The Cape Technikon was the first member of the CALICO consortium of five academic libraries in the Western Cape, South Africa to implement Metalib and SFX technology.

Metalib is a library portal that enables users to search multiple database sources simultaneously, while SFX provides “context-sensitive” linking. This article examines local technical and staffing issues, managing the implementation process using the traditional African principles of ubuntu and batho pele (putting “people first”), and the marketing campaign leading to the final launch of the product.

The use of questionnaires at various stages of the implementation process to evaluate users’ opinions and …

Predicting The Success Of Commercial Aska Services, In The United States And Abroad, Kate Lyons, Jenny M. Baum

Publications and Research

This article discusses the quality of commercial and library-sponsored AskA services and uses this as a prediction for the success of the programs. The authors also explore the idea of the commoditization of information and its acceptance rates in different countries, and use these to predict the success of commercial and library-sponsored AskA services both in the United States and abroad.

Reading Over The Shoulder Of The Future At The Library Of Congress, Samuel Gerald Collins

Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture

[First paragraph]

It is 2003 and I am doing some research at the Library of Congress, the de facto national library for the United States and the largest library in the world. Next to me sit some articles I've printed off of online journals on the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's Total Information Awareness Project, a plan, still in its formative stage, to throw a panopticon net of surveillance across the United States through a combination of language translation technologies, data search and pattern recognition technologies, and advanced collaborative and decision support tools (DARPA). But I am also doing research …

Don’T Drown — Catch The Wave: Instruction At The Valley Library, P. S. Mcmillen

Library Faculty Research

As many readers will no doubt be aware, librarians at OSU have done one-to-one and classroom instruction tor many years. However, 3S the information landscape changes, so do the students' needs tor learning how to navigate that ever-changing landscape. The rapidly increasing migration of print resources to electronic form removes many of the contextual and visual cues that alerted earlier users to the authority, accuracy, comprehensiveness, point of view, or other indicators by which to judge the quality of information sources. As the experts in the organization, access, and dissemination of information, librarians have stepped forward to teach students how …

Document Delivery: An Analysis, Jeff Luzius

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

This paper will take a look at in-house document delivery activities in college research libraries. The process of document delivery will be explained and the amount of work at one institution will be displayed. An examination of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) members will also take place to see who is providing document delivery and if the patron is charged. Lastly, a commentary on the value and service provided and things to consider will be touched on.

Usability Of E-Journals And Preference For The Virtual Periodicals Room: A Survey Of Mathematics Faculty And Graduate Students, Lutishoor Salisbury, Emilio Noguera

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

Using several variables, the University of Arkansas Libraries conducted a survey in 2002 to measure the nature and extent of journal use in the Mathematics Reading Room, the Virtual Periodicals Room and Mullins Library.

The aims of this survey were two-fold: firstly, to collect information on the current level of support for electronic-only journals to aid in collection development, and secondly, to ascertain whether a Virtual Periodicals Room is a viable alternative to the physical Reading Room for the Mathematics faculty.

Conclusion

It is obvious from the results of the survey that greater use is being made of the …

Digital Reference Evaluation: Assessing The Past To Plan For The Future, J. B. Hill, Cherie Madarash-Hill, Ngoc Pham Thi Bich

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Historically, libraries have routinely evaluated their reference services both quantitatively and qualitatively. With the increasing volume of digital reference transactions, there is a need to modify and apply to digital reference, the same evaluation techniques that have been used successfully in the evaluation of traditional reference service. At Southeastern Louisiana University, a recent evaluation of the library's Ask a Librarian digital reference service included an unobtrusive observation of current practice through a detailed examination of archived reference transactions, as well as an assessment of future needs through a survey of users. Through this evaluation, it was possible to assess the …

Paper Use And Recycling In Academic Libraries, Michele Calloway, Darren Callahan

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Conclusions

While it is difficult to predict what the future may hold in regard to paper use and recycling, without a doubt, academic libraries are sites of enormous consumption and they should be proactive in institutional improvements in waste management. A paperless society is unlikely to become a reality for a very long time, if ever, but what can libraries do now to discourage paper waste and encourage recycling? According to the results of this survey, libraries are taking steps to divert recyclables from the garbage. In the future, as people become even more accustomed to working in the electronic …

Bibliographic Instruction: Two Models Converging In A Common Goal, Stephen J. Shaw

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

This essay will explore research in the undergraduate curriculum by examining the divergent ways research is understood. The debate centers around the ways that the typical student perceives the role of the library in her education at the university. To limit the discussion to the relation between the student and the librarian misses the larger issue at stake. What needs does the average undergraduate have after completion of the B.A., if they have no plans to continue education further? Are research skills necessary only for the graduate student, or is there some truth to the humanistic notion of 'knowledge …

An Often-Tumultuous Saga Of Books And Book-Places In The World: A Review, Dayne Sherman

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Book review of Battles, Matthew. Library: An Unquiet History. W.W. Norton, New York, NY, 2003. $24.95.

Excerpt:

Library: An Unquiet History dignifies the work of librarians as a profession, something needed more now than ever before, as we encounter this chaotic Communication Age. It tells us why we are here toiling in the library by telling us how we arrived as keepers of books and guardians of democracy.

The Local Nature Of Digital Reference, Teresa U. Berry, Margaret M. Casado, Lana Dixon

The Southeastern Librarian

In response to the extensive availability of digital library resources and the rising number of remote users, many libraries now offer digital reference services through e-mail and chat. The growing use of interactive chat software with its real time interactive capability has prompted librarians to consider collaborative ways in which to offer this service. A concern expressed frequently in informal discussions of such collaborations is how difficult it would be for the staff at one library to answer questions for another, considering that many questions tend to be “local”. Intrigued by the perception of “local,” librarians at the University of …

Gardner’S Film, Video And Tv Dictionary, Priscilla Finley

Library Faculty Research

Useful for professionals and students in broadcast media, multimedia production, or the film arts, Gardner's work is remarkable for its up-to-date coverage of digital production standards and terminology.

Bryson’S Dictionary Of Troublesome Words, Priscilla Finley

Library Faculty Research

Travel writer and humorist Bryson has revised, adapted, and updated his style guide, first published in 1984 in Britain as Penguin Dictionary of Troublesome Words and in the US as Facts on File Dictionary of Troublesome Words, to appeal to contemporary American book buyers. Presenting itself as a "compilation of suggestions, observations, and treasured prejudices," the work compiles and comments on commonly misspelled words and proper nouns and other conundrums of usage scrupulous writers or copy editors may face.

Usability Testing At Florida International University Libraries: What We Learned, Sarah J. Hammill

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

The Florida International University Libraries’ Web site’s new look was launched in Fall 2001. As a result of the new look, a group formed to undertake a usability study on the top page of the site. The group tested three target groups to determine the usability of the top page. The study pointed out some revisions for the top page; however, more importantly, it suggested areas for future research.

Digitization In An Archival Environment, Sally Mckay

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Introduction

Cultural institutions such as museums, libraries, archives, and historical societies house remarkable collections of cultural artifacts. It is the responsibility of the staff working for those institutions to preserve, protect and provide responsible stewardship for the materials, and to the best of their ability, provide continued long-term access (Russell, 2000).

Advances in technology allow institutions to provide expanded access and education; however, there are important priorities that must be addressed prior to embarking on a digital conversion project.

Digitization in an archival environment includes taking a physical object or analog item, such as an art object, a tape recording, …

Harper & Brothers’ Family And School District Libraries, 1830-1846., Robert S. Freeman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

In the 1830s, at the dawn of mass-market publishing, J. & J. Harper of New York began publishing several libraries, including Harper’s Family Library and Harper’s School District Library. A “library” in this sense is a series or set of uniformly bound and uniformly priced books issued by the same publisher. A leading publisher and a major force in the broad religious and social reform movements of the period, the Harper brothers helped to shape education in American homes and schools. As Methodists they were advocates of reading for moral improvement. As innovative publishers, they made full use of the …

The Great Leveler: Free Business Resources On The World Wide Web, Jason Martin

The Southeastern Librarian

The Internet is full of reliable sources that are filled with a wealth of business information. Some of these sites are fee-based with subscription prices that are much lower than those of the large commercial databases. Unfortunately, only a single subscriber may use most of those fee-based sites. That means the librarian must turn to sites that are free to the general public. Many of these free sites rival fee-based services for quality and quantity of information.

Off The Shelf And Into The Classroom: Working With K-12 Teachers To Integrate Digitized Collections Into Classroom Instruction, Tara Zachary Laver

The Southeastern Librarian

Thanks to a grant funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Special Collections Department of LSU Libraries and the LSU digital library have been digitizing, cataloging, and making available via the World Wide Web selected documents and publications from the era of the Louisiana Purchase held by LSU and the New Orleans City Archives. A goal of the grant was to enhance K-12 teaching and learning by working with Louisiana teachers to integrate the use of the digital collection into their classroom activities. The digital collection’s availability on the web would also give access to any teacher, …

Challenges, Strategies, And Tools For Research Scientists: Using Web-Based Information Resources, Danielle Bodrero Hoggan

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Scientists face many challenges in harnessing web-based resources. Information overload, misinformation, fees, poorly designed navigation, and loss of browsability all hamper the scientist searcher. In addition, many scientists rely on only one or two databases and often miss unique information that is available through other sources. Librarians can team up with scientists to develop strategies to overcome the challenges of web-based information. For example, a librarian can teach effective information seeking techniques, including how to use controlled vocabularies, how to evaluate information on the web, and how to complement web-based resources with print resources. Librarians can also help scientists to …

Instituting Blended Learning At A Small College: A Library Director’S Perspective, Odin L. Jurkowski

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

Saint Anthony College of Nursing (SACN) is a small private Catholic institution that offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Founded in 1915 as a school of nursing offering only diplomas it is now fully accredited regionally by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (NCA) and program specific by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLN-AC). As a single purpose institution with 13 faculty, 11 staff, and fewer than 100 students, SACN has continued to strive to modernize the program over the past decade with limited resources. Recent technological improvements led by the …

The Coverage And Duplication Of Journals In Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (Csa): Bioengineering Database And Other Science And Engineering Databases, Lutishoor Salisbury, Emilio Noguera

E-JASL: Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship (1999-2009, Volumes 1-10)

As collection development librarians we aim to provide comprehensive information access to our users in order to support their research and curricular needs. For academic libraries, like the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, that support the information needs within a range of subject areas in science and technology, it makes economic sense to attempt to provide this access in discipline-oriented databases. Discipline-oriented databases cover a range of subjects but also provide depth in coverage.

Bearing this in mind, the journals that are indexed in Cambridge Scientific Abstracts (CSA) Bioengineering database were analyzed to ascertain the degree of overlap with other …